EU Is Asking Microsoft Rivals if Teams Integrating in Office Is Problematic

EU antitrust regulators are following up on a criticism by Slack Technologies by asking Microsoft’s rivals if its Teams app built-in with its Office product provides it larger clout, in an indication that they might open an investigation.

In a questionnaire despatched to rivals and seen by Reuters, the European Commission is specializing in the interval 2016 to 2021. Microsoft launched Teams in early 2017 to compete with Slack and others within the fast-growing office collaboration market.

Slack, purchased by enterprise software program maker Salesforce.com in July, took its grievance over Microsoft’s Teams software program to the Commission final yr.

Microsoft, which has been handed EUR 2.2 billion ($2.6 billion or roughly Rs. 19,100 crores) in EU fines for instances involving so-called tying and different practices in earlier decade, declined to remark.

Slack alleged that tying or bundling Teams with Office was unlawful and urged the EU competitors company to separate the 2.

It mentioned Microsoft pre-installs the office chat, it was tough to uninstall and that the US firm refused to supply data which might enable rival merchandise to work with Teams and Office.

This has prompted the Commission to ask if bundled merchandise give firms entry to information that will improve their market energy in each markets and on the similar time make it more durable for rivals, specifically these with solely product, to compete.

It has additionally requested about obstacles to entry or enlargement within the office apps market, switching prices for purchasers and the significance of consumer information safety.

Rivals had been requested for a listing of consumers who’ve switched to Microsoft Teams or its bundled Office, the share of income they’d misplaced because of this, in addition to the impression of the built-in merchandise on their investments in innovation and the standard and value of their merchandise.

The questionnaire requested if the COVID-19 had boosted demand for office apps and the way this can evolve post-pandemic.

Other firms which give office apps embody Zoom Video Communications, Alphabet’s Google, Facebook, and Cisco.

© Thomson Reuters 2021